Mountain America Provides Free Financial Education to More Than One Million Individuals in 2020

With the pandemic's lingering economic impacts, many consumers have begun to reevaluate their financial situation and seek financial guidance. A September 2020 J.D. Power survey found that one-third of U.S. consumers do not have enough money to cover living expenses and 58% do not have enough cash on-hand for a $500 emergency.

To help individuals navigate these challenging times and provide a path for financial success, Mountain America Credit Union expanded its financial education efforts in 2020. Through personalized financial education and branch service, Mountain America provided free resources to over one million individuals and helped over 25,000 members save more than $100 million in interest this year.

In 2020, Mountain America expanded its financial education offerings, introducing the following new initiatives:

• Webinars: Ranging in topics from improving your credit score to preparing to withdraw from your retirement fund, this year’s webinars reached more than 12,000 consumers.
   

• Financial Guides: Launched in April 2020, the Financial Guide program has provided free one-on-one financial coaching sessions to more than 700 individuals.
   

• Guiding You Forward podcast: Nearly 300,000 viewers have tuned in to watch the Guiding You Forward podcasts, a library of more than 25 podcasts on YouTube featuring subject matter experts with topics ranging from tips for saving for a down payment for a home, understanding what types of mortgages are available, budgeting, understanding your credit score and so much more.

Mountain America also continued the following partnerships during 2020:

• Community partnerships: Mountain America continued to partner with over 60 organizations, ranging from local businesses, government entities and non-profits, to offer free financial education workshops.
   

• Gamified platform and publications: Banzai, an interactive educational platform, helped teach 11,000 kids, teens and adults the basic principles of money through simulating real-life experiences. In partnership with the Deseret News, both The Game of Money and Money Matters publications are distributed to schools and homes across Utah, providing free financial education to approximately 600,000 individuals.
   

• Blog: Mountain America’s blog, which has had more than 100,000 visitors this year, offers tips on a variety of topics, including buying a car or home, rebuilding your credit and how much home you can afford.

To learn more about Mountain America’s free financial resources or schedule a private coaching session with a Financial Guide, visit macu.com/guide.